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Who's up, Who's down: Blue Jays Batters

By Tom Dakers
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays offense hasn't started the season the way we expected. Our batters are hitting .231/.310/.373 and we are averaging exactly 4 runs a game. I keep hoping to see signs life from our hitters, but the last 6 games we've averaged 3.7 runs per game.

Let's look at the individuals...

Batters 


Red Down

Russell Martin Russell played in 14 of the 15 games, starting 12. He even played an inning at third base. He's hitting .136/.204/.136, with no extra base hits, 3 RBI, 3 walks and 19 strikeouts. So far, he's struck out 38.8% of the time.He's looked good on defense.He's thrown out 2 of 6 base stealers. And I think we can safely give up on the idea that he can't catch Marco Estrada.

Blue Up

Edwin Encarnacion

 Edwin has played in all 15 games, 4 at first base, the rest at DH. He's had an interesting start to the season, getting his hits, but it took a few games before he had an extra base hit. He's hitting .305/.333/.441, with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 9 RBI, 3 walks and 17 strikeouts. He is striking out at a 27.0% rate, almost double his career rate. And his walk rate is 4.8%, less than half his career number. We'll give him an up arrow, because he's one of the few guys who are hitting, but he hasn't been the Edwin we expect.

Red Down

Ryan Goins

Ryan started 14 of 15 games. He's hitting .239/.255/.304 with 3 doubles, 3 RBI, 1 walk and 12 strikeouts. That's a 25.5% strikeout rate and a 2.1% walk rate. He's 2 for his last 18 at bats. I'd love for him to walk on occasion. People keep suggesting him for leadoff, but no. We haven't seen all that many spectacular plays, to this point, but that's likely more to do with a lack of chances (though I was amazed when he got to that ball yesterday, even if he didn't quite get the out).

Red Down

Troy Tulowitzki

Troy has played in all 15 games. He's hitting .148/.242/.278 with 1 double, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, 6 walks and 17 strikeouts. That's a 27.4% strikeout rate, but then he's getting some walks too. I don't know, he's only 31,he shouldn't have forgotten how to hit. At least his defense has been great.

Blue Up

Josh Donaldson

Josh started all 15 games, 3 at DH. He's hitting .293/.379/.665 with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 13 RBI, a league leading 14 runs, 7 walks ans 17 strikeouts. Like everyone else, he's striking out at a career high rate (25.8%), but he's been pretty great.

Red Down

Kevin Pillar

 Kevin played in all 15 games, the first 12 as our leadoff hitter. He didn't hit great in the spot. In all he's hitting .254/.302/.322, with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 RBI, 1 walks and 10 strikeouts. That's a 15.6% strikeout rate, which is actually a little better than his career rate. He was a streak hitter last year, I'm hoping he gets on a good streak soon. If he would walk occasionally, that would help the cold stretches.

Red Down

Chris Colabello

 Chris played in 9 games, starting 7, and he has 2 singles to his credit. .077/.143/.077, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts and 2 hit by pitch (one scary one off the helmet). He has a 25.0% strikeout rate, which is actually slightly better last year. He really has hit anything hard yet this season, so he hasn't given the BABIP Gods a chance to help him out. I don't know what do to with him, but I'd give Smoak a chance to see if he can do any better.

Blue Up

Jose Bautista Jose has started all 15 games, starting 1 at DH, but he had to finish the game in right. I'd like them to DH him more often, but we really don't have someone to play the outfield to give him the time off. He's hitting .300/.453/.620, with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 11 RBI, 14 walks (leading the league) with 15 strikeouts (career high 23.4% strikeout rate). He hasn't impressed me on defense, but, hitting like he is, I can live with it.

Blue Up

Michael Saunders

Michael played and started 12 of 15 games. He's hitting .289/360/.467  with 5 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 1 caught stealing, 5 walks and 12 strikeouts. (striking out 24.0% of the time, which is actually better than his career rate). Since moving to the leadoff spot, he's hitting .308/.400/.385 (that's just 3 games). I like him as leadoff hitter, but I'm ok with the team making sure he was healthy enough to play before moving him into the spot.

Arrow around

Justin Smoak

 Smoak has played in 13 games, starting 4. He has, likely, the weirdest batting line I've ever seen. .143/.455/.143 with 1 steal, 7 walks and 12 strikeouts. That's a 54.5% strikeout rate and a 31.8% walk rate. So 86.3% of the time,he might as well not bring his bat with him to the plate. To this point, he's either struck out, walked or singled. He has a 1.000 BABIP. (perhaps it is unsustainable). Actually his whole line is unsustainable. I have to idea, Normally a .455 OBP would get you an up arrow and maybe he deserves one but i'm  going to split the difference. If I'm Gibby, I keep sending him out there, just as a science experiment, if nothing else.

Red Down

Ezequiel Carrera Ezequiel played in 6 games, starting 4. In 12 PA, he's has 2 singles. .167/.167/.167 batting line, 1 steal, 0 walks and 3 strikeouts. I'd prefer a right-handed hitting fourth outfielder, especially since he seems to be filling in for Saunders against lefties.

Red Down

Darwin Barney

Darwin has played in 6 games, starting 5. He's hit .214/.313/.214 with 1 RBI, 2 steals, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Marginal down arrow.

Red Down

Josh Thole

 Josh played in 4 games, starting 3. In 9 PA, he's had 1 hit. But then it was a home run, so you know, if you are only going to have 1 hit, it might as well leave the park.That's a .111/.111/.444 line, 1 RBI, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts. 

red cross

Devon Travis

 He took batting practice Monday and. Apparently it went fine. He also took some softly hit balls in the infield. He's to take BP again today. He should be sent off on a rehab assignment soon. I wouldn't expect to see him in Toronto till mid-May at best, but it is good that he's progressing.

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